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Reflection
 187:   Based on the Vatican II document 
Gaudium et Spes (Church in the world) 
Article 86

(Comments welcome here)

 

This article speaks about the need for fair trade between rich and poor nations.

Doesn't concern me?

If I live in the developed world it very much concerns me.....from the tea and coffee I drink to the clothes I wear to the shops where I buy things to the companies I have shares in, to the terrorism that fills our daily news.....in fact, my concern or lack thereof will change/continue a situation that is as evil as slavery

For over 1,500 years  most people, including Christians, were unable or unwilling to do anything about slavery.  About 200 years ago some people, mainly Protestant Christians, started speaking up against slavery. And slavery was eventually abolished

For hundreds of years most people, including Christians, were unable or unwilling to do anything about un-fair trade. In recent decades some people, mainly Christians, have been speaking up against un-fair trade.  Please God un-fair trade will eventually be abolished

Why didn't more people, especially Christians, particularly Catholics, act earlier to abolish slavery?
Most appropriate answer is a red face, despite scholars efforts to deflect the blame.
Why don't more people, especially Christians, particularly Catholics, do more to abolish un-fair trade?
How many dioceses/parishes have/support an Oxfam Fair Trade shop?
How many ordinary people are even aware of the un-fair trade situation?
Un-fairness in trade is one of the main reasons for resentment/anger against the developed world, one of the main breeding grounds for international terrorism.
A practical  way for ordinary people to fight terrorism is to abolish one of its main causes: un-fair trade

One group trying to put fair trade ideas into practice
is Oxfam - see Oxfam links here re "the rigged rules of global trade"
and "Why do we care about trade?"

Jesus, may the spirit of William Wilberforce and friends who worked for the abolition of slavery....may that same spirit help more people be concerned about un-fair trade